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All Canada Alberta Canmore Big Head Sculpture

Big Head Sculpture

The granite head appears to be deep in thought and half buried in the ground.

Canmore, Alberta

Added By
rybuszka
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The Big Head sculpture in Canmore.   Glenlarson/CC BY-SA 4.0
The Big Head sculpture in Canmore.   Glenlarson/CC BY-SA 4.0
The sculpture’s eyes are closed.   Glenlarson/CC BY-SA 4.0
The piece weighs 9 tonnes.   Glenlarson/CC BY-SA 4.0
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About

At the very entrance to the small town of Canmore, just outside Banff National Park in Alberta, there is a giant human head. Well, actually, half of it.

Alan Henderson, an artist from Alberta, was commissioned to build a sculpture for the town of Canmore and found inspiration in the town's name. It's named after Ceannmore on the northwest shore of Scotland, which was in turn named after King Malcolm III, who was also called Malcolm Canmore. 

In Gaelic, Ceannmore means “big head,” and that’s exactly what Henderson produced. The Big Head sculpture weighs nine tonnes and looks like he’s emerging from the ground. His eyes are closed, and he appears to be in deep contemplation.

Henderson modeled the head on a friend, and it was carved from blue granite with the help of Chinese craftsmen. The Big Head has become a symbol of the town since its installation in 2008, and the community pitches in to help it accessorize. During the winter, people dress the head in a warm cap; in the summer he prefers a pirate outfit.

Related Tags

Sculptures Art National Parks Giant Heads Names

Know Before You Go

Easy to reach by car or bus from Banff. Easy to spot during walk around town centre.

Community Contributors

Added By

rybuszka

Edited By

erjeffery, news6850, Kavya Ram Mohan, akcidnuk...

  • erjeffery
  • news6850
  • Kavya Ram Mohan
  • akcidnuk
  • breit4

Published

August 8, 2017

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Sources
  • http://www.canmorepublicart.com/public-art-tour.html
  • http://www.canmorepublicart.com/ceannmore-by-alan-henderson.html
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/articles/malcolm_iii/
  • http://sculpture.org/portfolio/sculptorPage.php?sculptor_id=1000632
  • http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/29413
Big Head Sculpture
610-M 8 St
Canmore, Alberta
Canada
51.089425, -115.355417
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Vault

Kananaskis, Alberta

miles away

Banff Springs Hotel

Banff, Alberta

miles away

Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station

Banff, Alberta

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Canmore

Canmore

Alberta

Places 2

Nearby Places

The Vault

Kananaskis, Alberta

miles away

Banff Springs Hotel

Banff, Alberta

miles away

Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station

Banff, Alberta

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Canmore

Canmore

Alberta

Places 2

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